Ever watched the Academy Awards and thought, What were they thinking? You’re not alone. Join legendary comedian and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Bruce Vilanch, and screenwriter/film nerd Adam “Tex” Davis (Just Friends) as they dive into Oscar history, unpacking the flubs, snubs, and surprises from Hollywood’s biggest night. From behind-the-scenes stories of A-list stars to insider insights on how the nominations and winners are really chosen, Bruce and Tex break down each Oscar ceremony year by year to reveal what the Academy got right—and what they didn’t. If you’ve ever questioned why your favorite movie or actor got overlooked, this podcast is for you. The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?
Did you know that two of the Top 100 American Films of All-Time came out the same year but weren’t even nominated for an Academy Award? Or that the film often cited as the ‘Greatest Film of All Time’ didn’t win the Oscar in its year? Or that Cuba Gooding Jr. has the same number of acting Oscars as Al Pacino?
Look, stuff happens. But if you’ve ever watched or read about the Academy Awards, you’ve probably been left scratching your head over which movies and performers won – and how many beloved films weren’t even considered.
Why do so many Best Picture winners become some of the least remembered movies? How is it that legendary directors like Stanley Kubrick never won an Oscar? And why do great actors miss out on their best performances, only to win later for less impressive work?
Sure, the Oscars aren’t sports – there’s no scoreboard to show the winners. But with so many Academy members voting, you’d think they’d get it right. Spoiler alert: They often don’t.
On The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, Bruce Vilanch and Adam “Tex” Davis take a deep dive into Oscar history, looking back at the biggest mistakes, controversies, and snubs. From Shakespeare in Love beating Saving Private Ryan to Dances with Wolves winning over Goodfellas, we’ll examine where the Academy went wrong.
Along the way, you’ll hear incredible behind-the-scenes stories and never-before-told moments from Hollywood’s biggest night. We’re re-examining each Oscar ceremony, year-by-year, award-by-award, to see what the Academy got right, what they missed, and how we would “fix” the Oscars.
Whether you’re a dedicated movie buff or just a casual fan, this is the podcast for you. Join us for The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, where we break down the flubs, snubs, and forgotten gems of Oscar history.
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Ever watched the Academy Awards and thought, What were they thinking? You’re not alone. Join legendary comedian and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Bruce Vilanch, and screenwriter/film nerd Adam “Tex” Davis (Just Friends) as they dive into Oscar history, unpacking the flubs, snubs, and surprises from Hollywood’s biggest night. From behind-the-scenes stories of A-list stars to insider insights on how the nominations and winners are really chosen, Bruce and Tex break down each Oscar ceremony year by year to reveal what the Academy got right—and what they didn’t. If you’ve ever questioned why your favorite movie or actor got overlooked, this podcast is for you. The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?
Did you know that two of the Top 100 American Films of All-Time came out the same year but weren’t even nominated for an Academy Award? Or that the film often cited as the ‘Greatest Film of All Time’ didn’t win the Oscar in its year? Or that Cuba Gooding Jr. has the same number of acting Oscars as Al Pacino?
Look, stuff happens. But if you’ve ever watched or read about the Academy Awards, you’ve probably been left scratching your head over which movies and performers won – and how many beloved films weren’t even considered.
Why do so many Best Picture winners become some of the least remembered movies? How is it that legendary directors like Stanley Kubrick never won an Oscar? And why do great actors miss out on their best performances, only to win later for less impressive work?
Sure, the Oscars aren’t sports – there’s no scoreboard to show the winners. But with so many Academy members voting, you’d think they’d get it right. Spoiler alert: They often don’t.
On The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, Bruce Vilanch and Adam “Tex” Davis take a deep dive into Oscar history, looking back at the biggest mistakes, controversies, and snubs. From Shakespeare in Love beating Saving Private Ryan to Dances with Wolves winning over Goodfellas, we’ll examine where the Academy went wrong.
Along the way, you’ll hear incredible behind-the-scenes stories and never-before-told moments from Hollywood’s biggest night. We’re re-examining each Oscar ceremony, year-by-year, award-by-award, to see what the Academy got right, what they missed, and how we would “fix” the Oscars.
Whether you’re a dedicated movie buff or just a casual fan, this is the podcast for you. Join us for The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, where we break down the flubs, snubs, and forgotten gems of Oscar history.
Oscars fans, movie fans and especially horror movie fans — you are in for a treat. Just in time for Halloween, we’ve got a special bonus episode exploring the complicated history of horror movies and the Oscars!
Well, for some people it’s not complicated — the Oscars seem to HATE horror films. But is that true? And what even IS a horror film? We’ll answer those questions and more by looking at objective horror films that were nominated, or won (it’s not a long list); look at some horror movies that should/could have been nominated — and explore some movies that were nominated that may have been secret horror films.
Plus we’ve got some hidden gems for you to watch this spooky season! As always, thanks for listening!
Horror Films Mentioned
(* Recommended)
*Crash (1996)
*Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th Pt.V
*Halloween
*Don’t Go in the House
Don’t Go in the Woods
*Don’t Look in the Basement
*Don’t Go Near the Park
*Don’t Torture a Duckling
*Frankenstein (2025)
Manos: The Hands of Fate
Snuff
Boogeyman 2
*The Blair Witch Project
*Psycho
*Night of the Living Dead
*The Birds
*Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer
*Dracula
*Wolfman
*Frankenstein
*The Mummy
*Creature From the Black Lagoon
Eraserhead
*The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
*Child’s Play
*Candyman
Barbarian
*Midsommar
*The Lighthouse
*Frozen (2010)
*Fight Club
*No Country For Old Men
*Nightcrawler
*A Clockwork Orange
*Requiem for a Dream
*Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Hound of the Baskervilles
*Thirteen (2003)
*The Exorcist
*Jaws
*The Silence of the Lambs
*The Sixth Sense
*The Green Mile
*The Shawshank Redemption
*The Black Swan
*Room
*Get Out
The Shape of Water
The Substance
*M (1931 & 1951)
*Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931)
*Freaks (1932)
*King Kong (1933)
*Cat People (1942 & 1982)
*Isle of the Dead
*Suspicion
*Strangers on a Train
*Shadow of a Doubt
*Rear Window
*The Birds
*Rosemary’s Baby
Apartment 7A
*Dawn of the Dead
*Land of the Dead
*The Omen (1976)
*Alien
*Aliens
*Alien 3
Prometheus
Sasquatch
Halloween 3
*The Shining
*American Werewolf in London
*The Thing
*Poltergeist
*Misery
*Stand By Me
*Scream
*The Others
*Zodiac
*Se7en
*Ex-Machina
*Hereditary
*Rebecca
*Gaslight
*The Towering Inferno
*Deliverance
*Wrong Turn
*The Hills Have Eyes
*Carrie
*No Country For Old Men
*The Hitcher
*Parasite
*Don’t Breathe
*It Follows
*2001 A Space Odyssey
*The Body Snatcher
*Invasion of the Body Snatchers
*The Seventh Victim
*The Old Dark House
*I Walked With a Zombie
*Ghost Ship (2002)
*Bride of Frankenstein
*Obsession
*Dressed To Kill
*Body Double
*Blow Out
Sisters
Raising Cane
*Funny Games
*Benny’s Video
*The Piano Teacher
*Knife in the Water
*Repulsion
*The Tenant
*The Fearless Vampire Killers
*Nope
*What Lies Beneath
Innocent Blood
Hour of the Wolf
*The Virgin Spring
*Last House on the Last
*The Bay
*Antichrist
*mother!
*Panic Room
*Near Dark
*Dracula (Francis Ford Copolla)
*Dementia 13
*Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
*Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
*Frailty
*Skeleton Key
*Triangle
*Sightseers
*The Invitation
*Saint Maud
*Oculus
*Hush
*Wait Until Dark
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The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!
Ever watched the Academy Awards and thought, What were they thinking? You’re not alone. Join legendary comedian and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Bruce Vilanch, and screenwriter/film nerd Adam “Tex” Davis (Just Friends) as they dive into Oscar history, unpacking the flubs, snubs, and surprises from Hollywood’s biggest night. From behind-the-scenes stories of A-list stars to insider insights on how the nominations and winners are really chosen, Bruce and Tex break down each Oscar ceremony year by year to reveal what the Academy got right—and what they didn’t. If you’ve ever questioned why your favorite movie or actor got overlooked, this podcast is for you. The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?
Did you know that two of the Top 100 American Films of All-Time came out the same year but weren’t even nominated for an Academy Award? Or that the film often cited as the ‘Greatest Film of All Time’ didn’t win the Oscar in its year? Or that Cuba Gooding Jr. has the same number of acting Oscars as Al Pacino?
Look, stuff happens. But if you’ve ever watched or read about the Academy Awards, you’ve probably been left scratching your head over which movies and performers won – and how many beloved films weren’t even considered.
Why do so many Best Picture winners become some of the least remembered movies? How is it that legendary directors like Stanley Kubrick never won an Oscar? And why do great actors miss out on their best performances, only to win later for less impressive work?
Sure, the Oscars aren’t sports – there’s no scoreboard to show the winners. But with so many Academy members voting, you’d think they’d get it right. Spoiler alert: They often don’t.
On The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, Bruce Vilanch and Adam “Tex” Davis take a deep dive into Oscar history, looking back at the biggest mistakes, controversies, and snubs. From Shakespeare in Love beating Saving Private Ryan to Dances with Wolves winning over Goodfellas, we’ll examine where the Academy went wrong.
Along the way, you’ll hear incredible behind-the-scenes stories and never-before-told moments from Hollywood’s biggest night. We’re re-examining each Oscar ceremony, year-by-year, award-by-award, to see what the Academy got right, what they missed, and how we would “fix” the Oscars.
Whether you’re a dedicated movie buff or just a casual fan, this is the podcast for you. Join us for The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, where we break down the flubs, snubs, and forgotten gems of Oscar history.
